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wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “marker based”

wp.org orders by popularity, so a plugin a host bundled onto millions of sites, or a big-brand one that's slow and mediocre, can sit at the top. Our ranking is built to answer a different question: which of these is actually worth installing. How this works →

For “marker based”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 11 of the top 20. 2 plugins are pushed down for signals wp.org ignores: errors, a host-installed base, or removal risk.

wp.org search ranks on

Install count (uncapped), the raw star average, freshness, and support. Popularity dominates, so the biggest install base usually wins regardless of how it got there.

We add

A cap on the install boost, volume-weighted ratings, and signals wp.org can't see: whether it throws errors on current PHP, whether the install base is organic or host-pushed, and its risk of being pulled.

Ranked above its merit

Multi Location Marker shows at wp.org #5 but places #22 on merit, a gap of 17 places. Its 80+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 1 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

GeoDirectory – WP Business Directory Plugin and Classified Listings Directory places #12 on merit, 4.8★ from 716 reviews, but shows at wp.org #20. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Leaflet Maps Marker (Google Maps, OpenStreetMap, Bing Maps) 9K+ · 4.6★ (244) wp.org #1 2 WP Store Locator 40K+ · 4.8★ (312) wp.org #2 ↑1 3 WP Go Maps – Google Map, OpenStreetMap, Leaflet Map 300K+ · 4.8★ (3055) wp.org #4 1 too low 4 Premium Addons for Elementor – AI-Ready Elementor Addons, Widgets & Templates 600K+ · 4.9★ (1680) wp.org #8 4 too low 5 Open User Map – Interactive Leaflet Maps 10K+ · 5.0★ (70) wp.org #6 1 too low 6 WP Maps – Google Maps, OpenStreetMap, Mapbox, Store Locator with Search, Filters & Listings 60K+ · 4.3★ (122) wp.org #3 ↓1 3 too high 7 Quiz Maker by AYS 20K+ · 4.9★ (601) wp.org #11 ↑6 4 too low 8 LiteSpeed Cache 7M+ · 4.8★ (2778) wp.org #10 2 too low 9 WP Data Access – App Builder for Tables, Forms, Dashboards, Charts & Maps 10K+ · 4.9★ (88) wp.org #9 10 Maps Plugin using Google Maps for WordPress – WP Google Map 10K+ · 4.8★ (172) wp.org #14 4 too low 11 Otter Blocks – Gutenberg Blocks, Page Builder for Gutenberg Editor & FSE 300K+ · 4.7★ (251) wp.org #13 2 too low 12 GeoDirectory – WP Business Directory Plugin and Classified Listings Directory 10K+ · 4.8★ (716) wp.org #20 ↓1 8 too low 13 Mapster WP Maps 3K+ · 4.9★ (54) wp.org #15 ↓3 2 too low 14 Agile Store Locator 10K+ · 4.9★ (59) wp.org #17 ↓1 3 too low 15 Squeeze – Browser-Based Image Compression & WebP Converter (No API, No Limits) 3K+ · 5.0★ (6) wp.org #7 8 too high 16 WP Map Block – Google Maps, OpenStreetMap, Mapbox, Store & Shop Locator, Directory, Listings & Filters 20K+ · 4.0★ (20) wp.org #12 ↓1 4 too high 17 GEO my WP 3K+ · 4.6★ (139) wp.org #24 7 too low 18 iPanorama 360 – Advanced Virtual Tour Builder 4K+ · 4.5★ (31) wp.org #18 19 Extensions for Leaflet Map 3K+ · 5.0★ (24) wp.org #16 ↓1 3 too high 20 CodePeople Post Map for Google Maps 3K+ · 4.2★ (31) wp.org #23 ↓1 3 too low 21 WP MapIt 2K+ · 4.7★ (11) wp.org #21 22 Multi Location Marker 80+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #5 17 too high 23 VenoMaps – OpenStreetMap & Privacy-Friendly Geo Maps 400+ · 4.2★ (5) wp.org #22 ↑1 1 too high 24 One Step AI Image Marker 50+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #19 5 too high

Merit ranking caps the install boost at 1M (wp.org leaves it uncapped), replaces the raw star average with a volume-weighted Bayesian score and a Wilson lower bound, and keeps wp.org's own freshness and compatibility decays. Method from the plugin-directory source; see Meta Trac #8298. Positions are tracked daily from the first visit to a keyword, so the small arrows show movement since tracking began.